SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT

PWSS Portable Hydrants The PWSS portable hydrants consist of a 4½" through barrel with female and male ends with 3½8" gated outlets branching off of each side. The hydrants are formed onto a stand so that hoses can be connected easily. Gleeson valves can be connected to the gated side outlets or the outlets can be adapted for directly connecting supply lines if the PWSS is operating at conventional water pressures. The hydrants themselves to not have gates for the 5" leads as it is intended that the entire system be laid out before being charged. One gate valve is provided for the last portable hydrant in the event the main lead is extended by another PWSS unit.

Gleeson Valves The Gleeson valves, manufactured by M. Greenberg's Sons, are a useful but complex piece of equipment. Simply put they are a wye device with a built in pressure regulator and an assortment of knobs and controls. (These are the same devices that San Francisco uses with its Auxilliary Water Supply System.) Each Gleeson valve can supply two 3" hose lines. A thumbwheel on the top of the valve adjusts the pressure. A brass indicator tongue similar to that of a tire gauge indicates the pressure setting that is dialed in. The valve can be adjusted from 20 to 300 psi. The two large levers open and close the individual ¼ turn cylinder valves. The two small levers shown in the picture open small bleeder vents so that hoses can be disconnected after a shut down. A small lever near the center of the valve near the thumbwheel bleeds off the pilot chamber. Adapters and Pigtails The on-board assortment of adapters and pigtails can change genders, adapt upwards and downwards from 4½" to 2½" and also can adapt to Storz type couplings. Vehicle The vehicle does not have a pump and the system requires supply from a suitable pressurized source or pumper. Thanks to Oakland Sta. 24 for letting us examine and work with their equipment.

Checking out the valve When mounted on the portable hydrant all the handles are easily accessible Adjusting the pressure regulator

Back Legal Disclaimer

Unless otherwise noted, all contents of these WWW pages © 1996-2002, FireHydrant.org